by J.C. Lee

Rumor has it that the mafia conducted their criminal activities in Elkhart. But to the residents who grew up in the city's former Italian neighborhood, it's just that — rumors. On Feb. 7 readers voted for The Elkhart Truth to find out if there was any mafia activity in Elkhart in a segment called Ask the Truth. But some readers said the article should have considered the connection between the mafia and the local Italian community.

Many Italians settled along Harrison Street west of downtown Elkhart in the early 1900s, according to The Elkhart Truth's previous reporting. Many came to the city to work on the railroad, like Rico Iavagnilio's great-grandfather, Thomasine.

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Source: http://www.elkharttruth.com/